00 OTTLPIPBR's COMPLETX HXllBAi;^ 



of Ave tmall leaves a-piece laid open like a star, after 

 which come the berries separated one from another, more 

 than a cluster of grapes, green at first and very red when 

 they are thoroughly ripe, of no good scent, but of a very 

 loathsome taste, provoking vomit. The root groweth t» 

 be exceeding great, with many long twines or branches 

 going from i^ of a pale whitish colour on the outside, 

 and more white within, and of a shaip^ bitter, loathsome 

 taste. 



Plcui€. — It groweth on banks or under hedges, through 

 this land : the roots lie very deep. 



Time, — It flowereth in July and August, some earlier, 

 and some later than the other. 



Oovemment and Virtues. — They are furious martial 

 plants. The root of briony purges the belly with great 

 violence, troubling the stomach and burning the liver, and 

 therefore not rashly to be taken ; but being corrected, is 

 very profitable for diseases of the head, as falling sickness, 

 giddiness and swimmings, by drawing away much phlegm 

 and rheumatic humours that oppress the head, as also the 

 joints and sinews ; and is therefore good for palsies, con- 

 vulsions, cramps, and stitches in the side, and the dropsy, 

 and in provoking urine : it cleauses the reins and kidnevs 

 from gravel and stone, by opening the obstruction of the 



?)leen, and consuraeth the hardness and swelling thereof, 

 he decoction of the root in wine drank once a week at 

 going to bed, cleanseth the mother, and helpeth the rising 

 thereof, and expelleth the dead child ; a arachm of the 

 root in powder taken in white wine bringeth down the 

 courses. An electuary made of the roots and honey doth 

 michtily cleanse the chest of rotten phlegm, and wonder- 

 fully helps any old strong cough, to those that are troubled 

 with shortness of breath, and is very good for them that 

 are bruised inwardly, to help to expel the clotted or con- 

 gealed blood. The leaves, fruit, and root do cleanse old 

 and filthy sores, are good against all fretting and running 

 cankers, gangrenes, and tetters, and therefore the berries 

 are by some country-people called tetter berries. The 

 root cleanseth the skin wonderfully from all black and 

 blue spots, freckles, morphew, leprosy, foul scars, or other 

 deformity whatsoever : also all running scabs and manli- 

 ness are healed by the powder of the dried root or the 

 juice thereof, but especially by the fine white hardened 

 juice. The distilled water of the root worketh the nam* 



